I am Congressman Tom Emmer’s constituent. An email I received from his office earlier this week caught my attention. The subject line screamed, “Somali gang violence is out of control.”
The email drew attention to violence and gang activity in the Twin Cities. On that point, there is absolutely no disagreement. Violent gangs need to be investigated and prosecuted. Those who commit violence need to face the fullest consequences of the law.
Emmer’s repeated reference to the ethnicity of gang members through the label “Somali gangs” is intentional, with a view to associating an entire community with the conduct of a few. Emmer’s audience stops hearing about gang violence and begins hearing about Somalis.
When a white American commits a school shooting, we do not ordinarily investigate the perpetrator’s ancestral background and describe the crime as German, Irish, Italian or Norwegian violence. We rightly tie the crime to the individual or the criminal organization responsible.
Emmer’s constant fixation on the Somali community is taking an alarming turn. In a recent speech, his message to Somali Americans was, “If you won’t assimilate, then get the hell out of here.”
It is extremely troubling to hear a congressman asking fellow citizens to “get the hell out of the country.” The audacity with which Emmer has made such statements on multiple occasions should concern every American.
Does Emmer believe that an American citizen’s right to remain in the United States depends upon whether that person has assimilated to his satisfaction? There is no litmus test for citizenship based on ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or how one dresses. The Constitution is clear on this.
Emmer must realize that he swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. The Constitution, not his personal standard of assimilation, determines who belongs in this country.
I want our fellow Americans to think about how casually Somali Americans are being targeted and spoken about by politicians like Emmer. It is as though their dignity is negotiable and their citizenship and belonging are conditional. There are no graded levels of citizenship, and no one has the right to ask fellow citizens to “get the hell out” based on a personal whim.
The Constitution is the final word. Emmer can uphold it, or he can “shut the hell up” about which American citizens belong in their own country.
